Learning Disability Awareness Month
October is Learning Differences Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the importance of understanding and embracing diverse learning styles. In this context, it’s crucial to discuss disability empowerment, which plays a vital role in fostering self-determination, independence, and inclusivity both in the classroom and the broader community. By promoting awareness and acceptance, we can help students recognize and embrace their unique challenges and strengths.
Understanding their disability allows students to explore why they may feel different and how to navigate their experiences. If you haven't yet started this conversation with your child, here are some simple steps to guide you:
Open Communication: Discuss your child’s disability openly and honestly. Explain what it is and how it affects them in ways they can understand.
Focus on Strengths: Encourage your child to identify their strengths, interests, and preferences. Help them understand what they excel at and how they like to learn, as well as the support they may need.
Empower Advocacy: Teach your child about their services and accommodations. They are their own best advocate! Ensure they know what accommodations they have and how these support their learning. If they have multiple accommodations, create a list or a way for them to easily access this information.
Start Simple: You don’t have to share everything about their diagnosis at once. Begin with straightforward conversations that introduce the topic. As your child grows and asks questions, you can delve deeper into the details.
Click here to discover more resources for talking to your child about their disability.
Dyslexia and Related Disorders
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin and affects around 15-20% of the world’s population. Some of the characteristics of Dyslexia include:
Difficulty reading words in isolation
Difficulty accurately decoding unfamiliar words
Difficulty with oral reading fluency (slow, inaccurate, or labored without prosody)
Difficulty with spelling
Dyslexia affects individuals throughout their lives; however, its impact can change at different stages in a person’s life. Our Special Programs Coordinators have created a parent presentation that focuses on the various characteristics and risk factors of Dyslexia and Related Disorders.
White Cane Day
The President of the United States annually honors White Cane Day on October 15th with the Blind Americans Equality Day Proclamation. This important day recognizes the capabilities of individuals who are blind and advocates for equal opportunities alongside all Americans. White Cane Day aims to raise awareness about blindness, demonstrating how blind and visually impaired individuals can lead independent lives and actively contribute to their communities. It also celebrates the achievements of blind individuals in a sighted world and acknowledges their significant contributions.
Leander ISD is excited to celebrate White Cane Day with families of students with visual impairments. If you would like to join the festivities, please reach out to your Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments.
Did you know that Leander ISD has it's own Special Olympics team, Leander Lazers! This month The Lazers are hosting some fundraiser activities to help ensure our athletes have the resources they need to shine. Let’s come together as a community to celebrate the spirit of teamwork and inclusivity. Here are a few ways to support:
- Thursday, October 17 - Wednesday, October 23: Virtual Silent Auction
- Saturday, October 26: Pancake Breakfast 7:30-9:30 AM @ Mighty Fine Burgers
Transition services equip young adults aged 18 to 22 with the essential skills and knowledge for a successful shift into community and adult living, These services focus on a range of areas, including: adult living skills, community integration, social, recreational, and leisure skills, and employability skills. The level of support provided is tailored to each student’s ability to navigate the demands of the least restrictive environment, emphasizing successful self-regulation, interpersonal relationships, adaptability, flexibility, time management, and problem-solving.
If you want to learn more about SELF, 18+ Transition Services? Join us on a Tour! Parents, students and staff welcome. Look forward to meeting you! Complete our 18+ RSVP Google Form if you would like to attend!
- Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024
- Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025
- Wednesday, April 16, 2025
- Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Tours meet at the SELF HUB (portables at the back of Cedar Park HS campus) at 8:45 a.m. CPHS is located at 2150 Cypress Creek Rd. The tour ends by 12 p.m. We will start with a brief introduction in the classroom and visit a class. The group will then follow the leader in their own cars and caravan to the other SELF locations at Twin Lake YMC
Texas Driving With Disability Program
Have you heard about the new program in Texas designed to improve interactions between law enforcement and drivers with disabilities who have unique communication needs? Texans now have the option to indicate a “Communication Impediment” on their Driver License or State ID when registering through the DMV. This will alert the trained officer of an individual who may be slower to respond or one who is deaf or hard of hearing. Some diagnosis that may qualify as a communication impediment are:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Brain Injury
- Cerebral Palsy
- Down Syndrome
- Mild Intellectual Disability
- Parkinson's Disease
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Speech and Language Disorders (mutism, stuttering, speech delay, aphasia, spasmodic dysphonia)
- Deaf
- Hard of Hearing
Visit TexasDrivingwithDisability.com for more information.
Region 13 Transition Fair and Conference
Saturday Night Social
Get ready to dance the night away! Join Sam's Adventure Camp's Saturday Night Social for an unforgettable evening of fun and dancing for individuals with disabilities, ages 11 to 99, along with their families and friends on Saturday November 9th. Participants can bring a BFF or be paired with one of our wonderful volunteers.
Have questions or topics that you’d like to learn more about? Share them through our Leander Collaborative Partners form! We’ll be answering your submissions in upcoming episodes of the Leander Collaborative Partners podcast. Plus, your input will directly influence the content of our upcoming Family Workshop Conference sessions, ensuring we cover the topics that matter most to you. Our first episode will be released soon.
